Analyzing the effect of theoretical mindfulness-nursing-education-programme on students' stress, resilience, and heart rate variability: a quasi-experimental study.
Tzu-Jung Tseng, Chiung-Jung Wu
BMC Medical Education May 18, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-026-09176-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental, two-arm pre-post design Randomized Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Nursing students at a university in Taiwan |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based nursing education programme (MINDNUEDU) |
| Duration | Eight-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | College Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Quasi-experimental design Stress, resilience University nursing students |
| Key findings | Participation in the MINDNUEDU programme was associated with reduced perceived stress and increased resilience among nursing students. |
Abstract
Stress adversely affects nursing students' well-being and clinical communication. This study examined the effects of a newly developed mindfulness-based nursing education programme (MINDNUEDU) on perceived stress, resilience, and heart rate variability (HRV) among nursing students. A quasi-experimental, two-arm pre-post design was conducted at a university in Taiwan. Seventy nursing students were allocated to either an eight-week mindfulness intervention group (n = 36) or a standard curriculum control group (n = 34) based on academic scheduling constraints. Primary outcomes were perceived stress, measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, and resilience, measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Secondary outcomes included HRV indices (SDNN, RMSSD, and HF power), assessed within the intervention group. Adjusted between-group differences over time were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations, controlling for baseline values and year of study. After adjustment for baseline differences, significant Group × Time interactions were observed for perceived stress (p = .004) and resilience (p < .001), indicating greater improvements in the intervention group compared with controls. The mean increase in resilience exceeded the minimal clinically important difference. A significant dose-response relationship was also identified, with higher attendance linearly associated with greater reductions in stress (p = .003) and greater gains in resilience (p = .004). Within the intervention group, session-level analyses demonstrated acute post-session increases in parasympathetic-related HRV indices across several weeks. Participation in the MINDNUEDU programme was associated with reduced perceived stress and increased resilience among nursing students. While physiological findings reflected short-term autonomic changes during sessions rather than confirmed long-term trait adaptation, the results support the feasibility of integrating structured mindfulness training into nursing education. Randomized controlled trials with longitudinal follow-up are needed to confirm sustainability and causal effects.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- At-home use of app-based mindfulness for children: A randomized active-controlled trial. Mindfulness November 1, 2023
- Examining How Headspace Impacts Mindfulness Mechanisms Over an 8-Week App-Based Mindfulness Intervention Mindfulness September 1, 2023
- Mechanisms of Mindfulness Training: Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) Clinical Psychology Review November 5, 2016
- The effectiveness of self-help mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a student sample: a randomised controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy December 2014